COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Approximately 20 high school teachers from across the country are at The W this week learning the latest in restaurant management and culinary arts.

MUW’s Culinary Arts Institute is hosting the ProStart Institute for culinary educators through Friday. The goal of the summer institute is to provide educators with a forum to learn cutting-edge skills, which they can then take back to the classroom.

The session provides an overview of the restaurant and foodservice industry. Participants are introduced to food safety, workplace safety, kitchen essentials, stocks/sauces/soups, communication and management essentials.

ProStart is the two-year career-building program for high school students who are interested in culinary arts and foodservice management.

MUW signed an articulation agreement with the National Restaurant Association which gives the university access to the Mississippi schools that offer the ProStart program.